UNHCR: Returns to South Sudan gather pace Monday, 14 February 2011 10:33 Features The number of Southern Sudanese returning home is expected to swell to over 800,000 by the end of the year, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refeguees (UNHCR).
Since December last year, some 200,000 southerners have returned from the north, UNHCR says, adding that returnees are worried about their citizenship status if they remain in the north. UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards says the returnees were adding pressure on the already fragile humanitarian situation in the south. UNHCR is appealing for US$ 53 million to support the returnees. "UNHCR's role is mainly focused on ensuring monitoring of protection needs along the way, at transit points and in return areas. As well as facing insecurity, some returnees are becoming stranded along the way due to lack of means." Edwards expalined. UNHCR reports that there are close to 20,000 individuals stuck in the various departure centers around Khartoum, many of which lack shelter space. " People have in some instances been sleeping in the open for nearly two months. UNHCR and other humanitarian actors have been approached last week by the Government of South Sudan with transportation from the congested departures." SOURCE : UN Radio -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
